Brazil at the Dawn of the Eighteenth Century

Book Two

53 [ book two ] chapter i y The Choice of Land on Which to Plant the Cane, and for Supplying Provisions Needed for the Mill Whether the lands are good or bad determines if a royal mill will yield a profit or a loss. Those lands which are called massapés—black, thick earth—are the best for planting cane. Next come the saloens: red earth capable of only a few years of cuttings, for it is soon exhausted. The areiscas, which are a mixture of sand and saloens, are useful for growing cassava and vegetables, but not for cane. I would say the same about the white earth called Lands of Sand, like those of Camamú1 and of Saubâra.2 The land chosen for pasture around the mill must have water and must be fenced, either with live plants, such as pines, or with stockades and rods cut from the bush. The best pasture has a lot of grass, partly on the high ground and partly on the low ground. In this way, at all times of the year, the oxen and the other beasts will find something to eat, either in the one part or in the other. The pasture must be kept clear of all the other plants that kill the grass. In the winter, the pigs must be kept out of it because otherwise they root it all up. There should be one or two stockyards in it where the oxen can be put to eat the sprouts of the cane, and to be on hand to use with the carts. Likewise the other beasts should be in their respective runs, so that it will not be necessary to search high and low for them. Besides mares and oxen, the sheep and the goats should also be kept in the pastures. The smaller animals, such as turkeys, hens, and ducks, should be kept around the mill, as they are the easiest to slaughter for ...